Reporter:: 2016 is your first year posting in Vietnam, could you please give some comments on the bilateral relationship between Canada and Vietnam?
During the past year, our countries enjoy growing and positive relations in many areas, from political, trade to education, development and people-to-people linkages.
Our two countries continued to enjoy a positive and growing relationship with increasing number of high level exchanges. For instance, just recently in September 2016, we welcomed then-Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho. Such visits are an indication of Canada’s on-going interest to strengthen relations with Vietnam in a range of areas.
Our Prime Minister also met with President Tran Dai Quang on the margin of the recent APEC Summit in Peru. Vietnam is now Canada’s top trading partner among all ASEAN countries, with the bilateral trade having reached over CAD5.2 billion in the past 12 months ending November 2016.
The impressive growth in our bilateral trade is largely thanks to the high complementarity of the two economies, and the reflection of the high openness in our respective economy.
Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Ping Kitnikone. (Photo: Internet)
Reporter:: Besides enhancing the political engagement, and the bilateral trade, esp in education and training, Vietnam and Canada should be more active in promoting the people-to-people links. Could you please share your view on the role of promoting people diplomacy in the relationship development?
People to people ties are vital to building understanding and trust between our two countries. There is an active close to quarter of a million Vietnamese-Canadian community in Canada.
Many of them are very successful and contribute to strong trade and economic links between our two nations. We have been fortunate to welcome many renowned Canadian artists and musicians to Vietnam through our active public diplomacy program.
Last year, we were honoured to have the opportunity to showcase the talents of the globally-accomplished Canadian violinist Ms. Véronique Mathieu in the concert ‘Canada and Vietnam in Harmony’ as well as the highly acclaimed Slam poet David Dufour in the cultural exchange ‘Le Francaise, J’adore’ to kick off the Month of the Francophonie in March 2016.
Canada also promotes people-to-people ties through our development programming, and in particular through our volunteer programs and youth internship programs.
We have found that Canadian young people who have the opportunity to work abroad, in places like Vietnam, are likely to maintain a deep and lasting personal connection to the countries where they have worked.
This all contributes to further strengthening our ties. As well, we are reaching out to the Canadian alumni who have returned to work and live in Vietnam.
In many ways, they are our “ambassadors” who have an important role to play in building bridges between our two countries. As Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary of confederation, we are very excited about connecting Canadians, including Canadian alumni, to mark the occasion.
Reporter: What are the priorities in your term in Vietnam?
Canada and Vietnam already enjoy a positive and growing bilateral relationship. My priorities in the years to come are to further deepen the relations in areas such as political engagement, trade, education, development and people-to-people ties.
In addition to our bilateral relationship, Canada and Vietnam share membership in a number of multilateral fora, including ASEAN, in which Canada has been a Dialogue Partner for 40 years.
Since 2015, we have had a resident Canadian diplomatic presence in all 10 ASEAN member state and have appointed our first ambassador to ASEAN in 2016.
We are also members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Francophonie and of course the United Nations.
Our relationship is also reinforced by strong people-to-people ties, with close to a quarter million Vietnamese-Canadians in Canada. We enjoy positive and growing bilateral trade relations, thanks to the high complementarity of the two economies and the growing interest of both the Vietnamese and Canadian businesses in each other’s market.
Bilateral merchandise trade reached over CAD5.2 billion during the 12 months ending in November 2016. I am proud to note that this has made Vietnam the top trading partner for Canada in ASEAN. Still, there remains much room for further expansion of our bilateral trade. For example, Canada’s world-class food and agriculture sector is well positioned to meet Vietnam’s growing demands for premium and safe food products which Vietnam does not produce.
I know we can do more to advance this trade by increasing awareness of the many great Canadian products available in Vietnam. And the potential for our economic partnership is not limited to agricultural trade.
Canadian companies are actively pursuing opportunities in Vietnam in other sectors such as ICT, industrial machinery, consumer products, pharmaceuticals and health products, wood and forest products, aerospace, financial and insurance services, and of course, in sustainable technologies.
With Vietnam embracing international economic integration and efforts to restructure the economy toward one that is more efficient, value-added and sustainable, I know more and more Canadian companies will find business opportunities in Vietnam’s market. Another important area of our partnership is education and training.
Canada is a popular study destination for many Vietnamese students. In 2015, well over 5,000 Vietnamese students were admitted to study in Canada, a number that continues to grow by 10-20% per year.
Not only are Vietnamese students choosing to study in Canada, many are also studying Canadian curriculum right here in Vietnam, at all levels, from a Canadian kindergarten in Hanoi and a K-12 program in Ho Chi Minh City, to Canadian undergraduate and graduate programs being delivered in partnership with Vietnamese universities such as Vietnam University of Commerce in Hanoi, University of Economics and University of Industry in Ho Chi Minh City.
The protection and advancement of the rights of individuals, including LGBTI rights and women’s rights, is a key priority for Canada’s foreign policy and we have been happy to support initiatives here in Vietnam which built capacity toward supporting these rights.
Women’s critical roles in food production, income generation, management of natural resources, community organization, and domestic responsibilities are essential for sustainable development.
Empowering women and girls is not just a goal in itself, but a key element for long-term sustainable development and economic growth.
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives in Vietnam has supported and will continue to support many projects which promote gender equality in Vietnam. I have been inspired by the passionate advocates for these issues in Vietnam, and am proud to tell you that we have supported projects which vary from efforts to stop violence against women to combatting human trafficking and protecting the rights of domestic workers.
Our interest does not stop at Vietnam, but extends to the region. In September of 2016, Prime Minister Trudeau announced a USD5.5 million project to protect migrant workers in the ASEAN region. Canada will work in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to support ASEAN’s regional efforts aimed at strengthening policies that defend migrant workers, particularly women.
Under the Canada-ASEAN Plan of Action, Canada supports ASEAN through concrete initiatives in areas such as disaster risk management, human rights, security enhancement, trade and investment, and public-private partnerships for infrastructure.
Vietnam is also an important country for Canadian development cooperation. Canada has contributed over CAD1.3 billion towards Vietnam’s development since 1990, not only through bilateral cooperation, but also through Canadian partnerships, regional programming and multilateral cooperation.
Canada is working with the Government of Vietnam to ensure our programming responds to poverty reduction priorities and focuses on improving the accountability and capacity of public institutions.
Through our work, we are supporting policy and legislative development, promoting entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises, as well as addressing agricultural value chain development, skills for employment, and private sector innovation to address climate change.
Total Canadian funding for Vietnam was CAD132.6 million in 2014-2015, the latest available statistics. Canada will also develop a CAD15.3 million Safe Food for Growth initiative (SAFEGRO), to improve food safety and expand economic opportunities for farmers in Vietnam. This announcement was made by Canada’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stephane Dion, during the recent APEC summit in Peru.
Reporter:: Prime Minister Trudeau and his diplomatic policies focus on better connection with Asia Pacific region, with ASEAN, and strengthening the relationship with Vietnam. What should we do to develop the relationship more effectively for the mutual benefits, for the regional and global peace and security?
The Government of Canada is committed to strengthen Canada’s place in the world and to re-energize its efforts to engage with its international partners, be it at the bilateral or multilateral fora. Southeast Asia has long been a region of importance to Canada and we continue to strengthen our engagement with ASEAN and its member states.
In 2017, we will be celebrating Canada’s 40th anniversary as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner. Since 2015, we have had a resident Canadian diplomatic presence in all 10 ASEAN member state and in 2016, have appointed our first dedicated ambassador to ASEAN.
Under the Canada-ASEAN Plan of Action, Canada supports ASEAN through concrete initiatives in areas such as disaster risk management, human rights, security enhancement, trade and investment, and public-private partnerships for infrastructure.
It is worth noting that Canada and Vietnam share membership in many multilateral organizations. For instance, we are both members of APEC, a unique multilateral economic and trade forum which works to facilitate trade integration.
As Vietnam assumes its hosting duties in 2017, Canada looks forward to working with Vietnam to fulfil the work plan as well as contributing USD4.74 million to the APEC Secretariat (over four years) to support small-scale projects focused on helping Micro, Small and Medium Size Enterprises (MSMEs) in developing APEC economies to grow and gain better access to global and regional markets.
Enhancing the ability of MSMEs to take advantage of global opportunities will bring tremendous benefits to the economies, promote greater regional integration and make a meaningful contribution to poverty reduction.
We are also aware that the environment, and unequal access to natural resources among people and between nations, can potentially undermine regional, and ultimately global, peace and security. That is why we look for ways through our development programming to support the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources in the region, such that access to clean water, clean air and energy resources, do not become a point of conflict in the future.
Reporter: It’s your first Tet in Vietnam, could you give some comments on the country and the Vietnamese people, as well as our Tet traditions?
I am constantly amazed by the dynamic and vibrant energy that personify the people of Vietnam. The traffic is a fascinating mix of organized chaos which the residents have no trouble navigating. And of course Vietnamese food is fantastic.
I will happily enjoy pho, banh cuon and bun cha any time during the day. This has led to one of the first words I learned in Vietnamese to be “ngon”! With Tet just around the corner, I definitely look forward to the opportunity to try more of the local delicacies.
In addition, I have really enjoyed the customs of decorating my residence with the peach blossoms and kumquat tree. In Canada, many families put up Christmas trees and decorate them in festive fashion; so I have enjoyed putting up my peach blossom tree and hanging the Tet decoration. I have also visited the Temple of Literature and tried my hand at Vietnamese calligraphy.
The calligrapher was very gracious about my attempts but it was difficult even if he made it looked so effortless. In addition to the activities, I have been learning about the tradition and stories behind the Tet customs.
I see that Canadians and Vietnamese share many similarities in our New Year celebration, when it is about spending time with our families and loved ones and giving thanks to the year that was and offering prayer to the year to come.
I would like to wish the people of Vietnam a wonderful Tet celebration with your families and friends. May the year of the fire rooster give you 12 months of joy, 52 weeks of good health, and 365 days of prosperity and success! My very best wishes for a wonderful year ahead! Chúc mừng năm mới.
Reporter: Thank you very much!